Butler Eagle file photo.

The county election board is seeking court permission to add seven voting precincts in five townships in time for the November election because of population growth.

During the county commissioners’ meeting Wednesday, July 19, the election board voted to petition Common Pleas Court to increase the number of precincts in Adams Township from three to five, Cranberry Township from nine to 11, Jackson Township from one to two, Middlesex Township from two to three, and Connoquenessing Township from one to two.

Board member Patrick Casey said adding precincts will be a recurring issue in the southern townships due to their rising populations.

He said he sees the growth in Middlesex Township, where he grew up.

“The growth in Middlesex Township is breathtaking,” Casey said.

Election bureau director Chantell McCurdy said the petition will be filed Friday and she hopes the petition is approved in time so the new precincts will be in place for the fall election.

If the petition is approved, the bureau will notify each impacted voter by mail and will post the new polling places in at least five locations in each township, McCurdy said.

Solicitor Julie Graham said residents opposed to the new precincts can file their objections with the clerk of courts so that the court can consider them.

The petition will have maps of the new precincts and a list of streets in the precincts, Graham said.

She said the new precincts are based on census information and keep intact the regions used in school board director elections in some school districts.

Commissioner Kevin Boozel said the new precincts would increase the total number in the county to 96.

The last time precincts were added was 2008, officials said.

Leslie Osche, chairwoman of the commissioners, said the number of voters in the new precincts will be balanced with the number in existing precincts.

She said polling places have been identified for the new precincts, but those locations could change before the election.